Flapjack’s Pancake Shack

While up in Ottawa on my latest visit, my sister suggested Flapjack’s as a breakfast spot we could hit with her brood and my wife and I.
She inquired if they did reservations, but given that they’re a very casual spot and probably quite dependent on flipping tables quickly, I wasn’t surprised to hear that they don’t. That said, they suggested that if we showed up around 9:30 we would likely be able to get seating for six no problem. Their advice worked out in spades, as we beat the 10−11am onslaught of hungover yuppies and hipsters.
The décor and theme is 100% Canadiana/​lumberjack, although unfortunately for the hipsters, there’s no discount if you’re wearing plaid or have a beard. Old photos of logging related activities adorn the walls, and several of the old time, aluminum cans for maple syrup sat on the shelf. Hum «Log Driver’s Waltz» to yourself and take it all, eh.
Taking a look at the menu, the easiest way to describe it is «breakfast decadence», with Canadiana-​puns. So riiiight up my alley. Obviously pancakes take primacy, and there’s a three-​step process for them here: choose your type of pancake (buttermilk or oatmeal), add the filling (s) you desire (several fruit, sweet and savoury options), and then top it off with something else (mostly sweet choices). Adding a nice twist to the pancake focus, they have a handful of «panwiches», which as the portmonteau suggests, are sandwiches made with pancakes instead of bread.
Naturally I had to give the rest of the menu a look for my due diligence and own amusement. There’s your typical breakfast standards, burgers, wraps, and since this is Ottawa, poutine. Some of the most puntacular items included the Canadian Club, oakmeal, and the lumburger. Oh, and I can’t forget what is surely a locally infamous item, the battered bacon. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, five strips of beer-​battered bacon can be yours for a mere $ 10 and one year off of your life expectancy.
Being big fans and it being one of those «must try» sort of things, my sister got us an order of the BBB, since she obviously both loves and hates me. For my own order, I had to go with the Big Joe Montferrand, which is the panwich equivalent of a Big Mac, with bacon, two eggs and cheese between three buttermilk pancakes. All of the panwiches also come with home-​made home fries, tomato jam and real maple syrup. They were also at the tail end of their mac and cheese week, so my wife went with their sausage poutine mac and cheese. One of the benefits of being an adult is that you can do things like have an ungodly mash up of poutine and mac and cheese… at 10am.
The beer-​battered bacon came first, with five golden brown, contorted strips of artery-​thickening-​ness. My initial feeling was that the batter dominates the bacon too much, and while it was alright, it wouldn’t be one of the modern over-​the-​top foods I would rave about. Get it to say you did, and move on to the good stuff.
The Big Joe seems to be one of Flapjack’s pride pieces of caloric greatness as it features heavily on their website and menu, and while my panwich didn’t live up to perfectly stacked picture, my good god it was good. The pancakes were a lot thicker and not as wide as I expected, a little bit wider than a hockey puck, and that seems to be the same for pancakes ordered on their own. Despite their thickness, they were ultra-​light and evenly cooked, and topped with a light drizzle of syrup, every bite was a hearty and delicious one.
The home fries here are actually thick chips/​coins. Cooked with a more deft hand at the fryer than most places those, the crispy slices of pomme de terre made for great dipping into the slightly spicy tomato jam and the runny yolks dripping off my panwich.
My wife’s sausage poutine mac and cheese was just as rich and tasty as you’d expect, although I prefer a stringier mac and cheese, rather than just a coating of mornay sauce. That said, it had a ton of flavour, and Flapjack’s deserves a tip of the cap for using breakfast sausages in it.
All told, Flapjack’s is a friendly spot, with some heavy, but mostly very good, food. It’s got a cool vibe that seems easily franchise-​able, and I wouldn’t be surprised or sad to see more of them pop up around the NCR or anywhere else in the Great White North.

Food was good but portions are small for the price. They also skimp on the more expensive ingredients like meat and cheese and fill you up on potatoes. I had a poutine that had almost no curds, gravy or the sausage and bacon that was supposedly in there. I’m thinking it was maybe 1 breakfast sausage and 1 piece of bacon. We’ll probably be back but I may opt for a sandwich or something instead of a breakfast item.

Went here with my girlfriend. Service was very quick with a wide arrangement of options. I had a Big Joe Panwich and she had regular pancakes with banana and chocolate chips.
The service was very quick and the food was delish. The coffee was so so, I didn’t like the mugs. They even give you a little puzzle at the table (we got to 2 pegs left).

This was a fantastic experience. The food, vibe & personal service was really great. You must order a milkshake.

Loved it. Food and service were great. Very cool vibe. Would highly recommend the milkshakes and the panwiches. Will be going back :)

Interesting experience with the variety of DIY pancakes, with lots of toppings to choose from. Having a mix of raspberry with Nutella and their homemade jam and maple syrup is great. The oatmeal pancake is very rich and moist too. Will have to try the Panwiches and battered bacon next time.

So a bit of history with what seemed to be — for the longest time — a mythical pancake shack — at least to me.
Now, I pass by Somerset and Preston ALL THE TIME. I see the Flapjack’s Pancake Shack sign on a building beside the Centretown Veterinary Hospital, and I’ve always wanted to stop by and see what it was all about. I’m pretty sure I went and looked at the parking lot beside the building; on the other side, etc., and… disappointingly found nothing. I was in a hurry though, and I thought that maybe I did not look thoroughly enough. I promised myself I would come back for a closer look.
Coincidentally, I found an Instagram trail, and realized that HEY, this pancake shack might just exist — after all, anything on social media is REAL right? So I made good on my earlier promise and tried to find them a second time. I FINALLY succeeded in locating them in their Preston location; although embarrassingly, yes, not until after I checked the back on that building in Somerset and Preston for a more thorough look… (but who’s judging?)
What a great spot on Preston! Really sweet patio, and inside they have various lumberjack-​slash-​hipster things that would still easily associate to flapjack culture (if there was one). We were seated after a short wait, in a wooden corner booth with good vantage point for people-​watching. Much appreciated.
Since this was the first time for my partner and me, we ordered a lot more than we normally would. We had the battered bacon to start, classic breakfasts with bacon and sausage respectively, with buttered pancakes on the side. As about Greasy as any respectable Sunday brunch should be.
And then the bacon comes, about 5 pieces in one order… each bite reminiscent of every summer I spent at the Calgary Stampede in my teenage years (when I was not yet worried about my health). I could only finish one full strip and a bite. I’m sure it tasted delicious… but it was too greasy for me.
The classic breakfast is OK. Nothing spectacular or mind-​blowing. The grease persisted, and after the battered bacon, the whole thing quickly became unappetizing. The flapjacks were slightly better. Thick, smooth and definitely easier to consume (than everything else we ordered).
Overall I would rate the experience on the middle-​end. Great ambience, respectable service. Foodwise, I hope they do a bit more to elevate their dishes. I mean, I get it: it’s a place where you cure hangovers… But note, there’s lots of those in town and some of them have been doing it longer, better, and cheaper.
Which is why it’s more likely you’ll find me at those other places. Although I sure am glad I was able to prove this place existed!

Slow service. The service was completely overwhelmed. I was given hardly two seconds of attention. Don’t eat here.

Nice food and staff.
I wish I could give 3.5 stars. It was nice, simple, satiating brunch. The wait wasn’t too bad and the staff were mostly nice about it.
To eat I ordered the individualized buttermilk pancakes with raspberries and white chocolate cooked into it with whipped cream on top. The pancakes tasted great but I wasn’t quite full and there wasn’t enough fruit.
My friends ordered the traditional breakfasts and the breakfast sandwich. I tried some ham and eggs and they were good. Nothing different or special but just well cooked eggs and Canadian bacon.
I would come back for a simple but good breakfast!

Really good! First tried their food from one of their trucks at a festival and had to come for a sit down.
Definitely the flapjacks are the stars! Though the omelette was good I’d say you stick with the flapjack And all things battered

First off, I really love what’s been happening to Preston Street the last few years, and FlapJacks guys right in with The Heart and Crown and Stone Face Dolly’s.
So, the first thing you need to try is the Battered Bacon, one order is never enough.
The Big Breakfast is exactly what you’d expect it to be, but they don’t call it the breakfast Shack, they call it the Pancake Shack, and their pancakes are great tasting, fluffy and go great with Bananas and Whipped Cream.

I think my biggest issues with the restaurant is the quality of what you get vs what you pay for. For a pancake house, I was expecting the best darn pancakes I’ve ever had. From ordering it took over 25 minutes for 3 4″ pancakes and another for my child. They were undercooked! 25 minutes to cook a pancake and it was doughy and mush inside? Come on guys. 3 strips of fat /​bacon which I payed extra for. A bowl of fruit, which honestly was served in a way where even though it was on their menu, I think it took them by surprise that someone ordered it, because it appeared to be a random pile of whatever they had in back.
Their cup of coffee was fine. I payed 2.50 $ for a coffee so it had better have been. The Starbucks was across the street if I wanted to spend 2.50 $ for coffee.
If this place takes pride in quality ingredients then I didn’t notice them. Take a another look at your quality control, because this place can’t last. Try their food truck, maybe everything is better there.